Defending Southland Champion Privateers release 2017-18 schedule

NEW ORLEANS – Fresh off a 20-10 season that featured the program’s first automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, the defending Southland Conference regular season and tournament champions released its 2017-18 schedule. The University of New Orleans will have 12 home games in Lakefront Arena.

Led by seventh-year head coach Mark Slessinger, who received a contract extension after the historic 2016-17 campaign, the Privateers begin the 2017-18 season with an exhibition versus Huntingdon College October 25 at 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER
On the docket to begin the regular season is the Big East Conference’s St. John’s University in the Big Apple November 10 at 6 p.m. CT.

Three days later, the Privateers head to Michigan to take on Oakland University in the Black Top on ESPN3 at 6 p.m. CT.

Circle your calendars for nonconference tilts at the University of Memphis (November 21) and the University of Houston (November 29).

Sprinkled in between the Memphis and UH contests will be the home opener, set for November 24, when New Orleans plays host to Spring Hill College at 2 p.m.

DECEMBER
The second month of action tips off in NOLA with UNO welcoming Williams Baptist December 2 at 2 p.m. After taking a week off, the Privateers head to Dallas to battle SMU December 13 followed by a bout at ULL on the 16^th. Oklahoma Panhandle State University visits the Big Easy December 18 at 7 p.m. and the final nonconference contest is set for December 20 at UAB.

“It is important to continue our rivalry with ULL and our former Sunbelt rival South Alabama,” said Slessinger. “We are excited to have both clubs return to Lakefront to complete a home-and-home in 2018.”

New Orleans attempts to go  when it begins Southland Conference play at home, hosting Abilene Christian University December 28 at 7 p.m. before closing out the 2017 year at Houston Baptist University December 30.

JANUARY
Ring in the new year in Lakefront Arena and cheer on the Privateers as they take on Lamar University January 3 at 7 p.m.

Back-to-back road games at McNeese State University and Stephen F. Austin State University precede a three-game homestand versus Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (January 13 at 4:15 p.m.), the University of Central Arkansas (January 17 at 7 p.m.) and the University of the Incarnate Word (January 20 at 4:15 p.m.).

After taking on Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, the second half of Southland play begins in San Antonio with UNO battling UIW January 27. The month concludes with a rematch versus the Demons in New Orleans on the 31^st.

FEBRUARY
Nicholls State University enters the Lakefront February 3 at 4:15 p.m. before UNO heads back to the Lone Star State to take on the Islanders in South Texas. Two home games remain with the Privateers hosting McNeese State February 17 and Southeastern Louisiana February 28 at 7 p.m.

MARCH
The Southland Conference Tournament begins March 7 in Katy, Texas. The last time UNO was there? Coach Sless and the Privateers cut the nets, earning the first automatic bid in school history and gave New Orleans its first March Madness appearance in 21 years.

The entire schedule can be found by clicking here.

SEASON TICKETS
Men’s basketball invites you to join in on the action at Lakefront Arena all season by purchasing your 2017-18 basketball season ticket. The new 1-and-1 deal offers new season ticket holders an exclusive package for all home men’s and women’s games; buy one adult general admission ticket for $125 and get the second for just $1 (exclusing processing and handling fee). Fans wishing to purchase or renew season tickets can visit www.UNOPrivateers.com/Tickets. Individual tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 1. For more information or questions, please call the UNO athletics tickets office at 504-280-GAME (4263).

SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, @UNOPrivateers on Instagram, like UNOPrivateers on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.